Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring; Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos
‘A Breathtaking Blockbuster’
Few films about tornadoes causing disaster are as beloved as “Twister”. Since it took the world by storm in the 1990’s, “Twister” has become one of the greatest disaster movies. Achieving fame years ago, the film depicted a tornado somewhere over the rainbow. As iconic as Titanic, it became a classic depicting a tornado that’s catastrophic. On a personal level, I find the film relatable. At an early age, I bonded with a housekeeper that adored tornadoes causing damage. Raised in stormy mountains of Pakistan, he told stories about tornadoes shaping identity. He took interest in tornadoes he recorded in a notebook. Drawn to the danger zone, he enjoyed recording tornadoes on his phone. He gaped in astonishment at jaw-dropping tornadoes he viewed an achievement. An adventurous person, he enjoyed witnessing tornadoes that were dangerous. He got excited when storms on news were forecasted. It wasn’t long before I bonded with a housekeeper that enjoyed stormy weather. I enjoyed discussing deep impact of tornadoes with a housekeeper that became my hero. However, disease ended bonds forever. No matter how hard he would try, my housekeeper couldn’t overcome illnesses leading him to die. Loss of a housekeeper that loved seeing tornadoes in skies brought tears to eyes. In a storm of grief, my family couldn’t cope with loss giving little relief. Facing a hurricane of pain, I couldn’t accept death proving hard to explain. Like tornadoes out of control, his death caused a toll. Years later, “Twister” reminds me of a housekeeper I treasure.
Now, Lee Isaac Chung celebrates catastrophic disasters in “Twisters”. Action-packed, intense and suspenseful, it captures tornado catastrophes. Chung creates a fantastic sequel that improves on the original tornado classic. Boasting breathtaking action sequences, engrossing storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s a dazzling blockbuster. Although “Twisters” is entertaining, it isn’t flawless. Its unevenly paced, building formulaic conclusions. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment satisfying fans of disaster movies.
Set in Oklahoma, “Twisters” captures tornado disasters. Daisy Edgar-Jones embodies Kate, a storm chaser haunted by trauma. At an early age, Kate loses interest in tornadoes after friends are killed in wreckage. However, Kate’s life changes when she’s called back into action by friends investigating tornado disaster. Assisted by storm chaser Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), Kate endeavours preventing disaster. Facing a dilemma, Kate questions whether it’s possible preventing tornadoes causing trauma.
Lee Isaac Chung is a newcomer towards tornadoes. Known for his Oscar-winning movie “Minari”, Chung is famous for Korean family movies. It’s Chung’s attempt capturing tornado disasters but he succeeds. Evoking the original “Twister”, Chung successfully uses handheld cinematography capturing tornado catastrophe. For instance, handheld camera elevates the storm scene. During this memorable sequence, Tyler embarks upon exciting journeys racing trucks searching for tornado catastrophes. It sparked heartwarming memories of a housekeeper feeling excitement witnessing tornado catastrophes. Handheld cinematography is complicated. Roland Emmerich’s “The Day After Tomorrow” demonstrated handheld cinematography elevates climate-change disaster movies. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Working alongside cinematographer Dan Minel, Chung demonstrates tornado disasters. Chung constructs frightening tornado storms manufacturing theatrical viewing.
If tornado disasters don’t attract you to theatres, however, there’s reasons to see “Twisters”. From a technical perspective, you won’t see a tornado movie that’s as impressive. One area where “Twisters” improves on the 1996 movie is special effects. For instance, practical effects elevate the tornado invasion scene. During this memorable scene, Kate and Tyler face nerve-wracking situations of a tornado that’s terrifying. One appreciates practical effects capturing tornadoes recalling Victor Fleming’s “The Wizard of Oz”. Through awe-inspiring practical effects, Chung demonstrates unbreakable bonds between people sharing love for tornadoes they value. It reminded me about my relationship with a housekeeper loving witnessing tornadoes he appreciated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Evoking Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws”, it builds jaw-dropping tension. Through awe-inspiring production design, Chung captures terrifying tornadoes causing lives of individuals to decline.
Another extraordinary aspect of “Twisters” is storytelling. Amidst breathtaking tornadoes, “Twisters” finds time for storytelling that’s compelling. Chung’s screenwriting strength is capturing traumatic impact of tornado disasters on individuals through flashbacks. In Hollywood, most disaster movies rarely address trauma faced by individuals facing catastrophes. As a case in point: the original “Twister” depicted a woman overcoming tornadoes in which her parents died without facing emotional adversity. Thankfully, though, “Twisters” avoids pitfalls. Celebrating James Cameron’s “Titanic”, Chung effectively uses flashbacks to capture an individual haunted by memories of disaster that’s tragic. Throughout the movie, Kate often recounts tragic memories of tornadoes causing deaths of friends she loved dearly. It reminded me of my grief mourning tragic loss of a housekeeper whose love for tornadoes gave family relief. Through flashbacks, Chung creates a character audiences relate to. Flashbacks are complicated. As Robert Zemeckis’ “Forrest Gump” demonstrated, flashbacks elevate historical dramas. Nevertheless, it succeeds in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Chung celebrates a commemorated classic today.
One admires astonishing performances.
Daisy Edgar-Jones delivers a star-making performance as Kate. Edgar-Jones achieved appreciation playing doomed lovers in television. With “Twisters”, however, she portrays her first disaster role. It’s challenging playing a woman stopping tornado catastrophes, but Edger-Jones succeeds. Evoking Sigourney Weaver in Ridley Scott’s “Alien”, she embodies a strong heroine facing disaster With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, bravery and passion of a woman on a mission to stop tornado destruction. It’s a phenomenal performance proving Edgar-Jones has a bright future in the film industry.
Glen Powell is phenomenal as a storm chaser willing to place life in danger to witness tornado disaster. Emulating Tom Cruise in Tony Scott’s “Top Gun”, Powell embodies a storm chaser that loves to use all his energy to investigate tornadoes making headline news. As Tyler Owens, Powell employs his commanding voice to create a storm chaser that’s compelling. Whether he’s screaming in excitement at tornadoes which are terrifying or silently flirting with Kate, Powell uses his commanding voice to create a character that’s fascinating. It’s a breathtaking performance from one of the most talented actors working today.
Despite extraordinary performances, however, “Twisters” can’t capture catastrophes which are created by frightening tornado disasters. Chung’s decisions integrating romantic subplots into the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Consequently, Kate’s romance with Tyler isn’t as engaging as tornadoes that are terrifying. Whereas this romantic subplot enhanced Nick Cassavetes’ ‘The Notebook”, it feels out of place in this movie. It comes across as distracting diversion in a movie about tornado destruction. Moreover, the film suffers from formulaic conclusions. It’s a conventional happy-ever-after ending that’s become a trademark of disaster movies. Michael Bay’s “Armageddon” demonstrated such heartwarming conclusions elevated 1990’s disaster movies. Disaster movies feature commemorated conclusions, and consequently “Twisters” falters.
Nevertheless, fans of disaster films would definitely enjoy “Twisters” and so will moviegoers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A dazzling disaster blockbuster, it celebrates a world-famous classic about frightening tornadoes causing life-threatening danger. Nearly 30 years following the release of an iconic film about terrifying tornadoes causing institutionalization disaster putting lives in danger, its depiction of catastrophe can incite individuals to give acknowledgements to stormy weather.
A touching tribute to a classic movie about tornadoes which are terrifying, it’s a tremendous reminder of a film portraying the impact of storms having an impact on lives of individuals that proves to be traumatizing.
Like Titanic ships doomed to face disasters which are tragic, it’s a terrific reminder of a classic movie that attained a gigantic following depicting catastrophic tornadoes causing consequences that are traumatic.
If movies can capture dangers posed by a tornado somewhere over the rainbow, hopefully it will lead to greater appreciation for scary storms with a huge impact on emotions that cause people to face sorrow.
As strong as Tyler’s love for tornadoes that materialize, it has inspired me to move on from the tragic death of a housekeeper bringing tears to family’s eyes that proved a shocking surprise by celebrating a classic movie about stormy skies that terrorize.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 